How to Make Your Home Smell Like Christmas
published December 1, 2018; updated October 2025
WOOO!! It’s officially socially acceptable to have Christmas music playing, the tree twinkling, and maybe a Hallmark movie humming in the background. Though, if we’re being honest, I was already doing at least two of those weeks ago.
I’ve always been obsessed with Christmas scents — the ones that make your whole house smell like cinnamon rolls, fresh pine, and cozy nostalgia all at once. For years, I was a total candle-and-plug-in girl. But once I had my boys, I started to second-guess having open flames or synthetic scents running all day.
I had been using essential oils for stress reduction for years, and decided it was time to start using them to scent my home and ditch some of the other products. I soon became addicted to having a diffuser on. You can literally create any vibe or holiday mood to your liking, and it truly leaves the home feeling calmer!
Though let me say, I am not against a nostalgic candle or scent either! It is all about balance!
I created these recipes for those of you who might be new to essential oils and just starting to explore or even if you are an essential oil pro who is just looking for extra variety in your holiday scents this year! I’ve got you covered with a mix of diffuser blends, reed diffuser ideas, room sprays, and a classic stovetop recipe (plus a festive Christmas playlist to set the mood for the season.
A Few Favorite Christmas Oils & How I Use Them
Just a little extra info on favorite holiday scents to stock in your home this season!
Balsam Fir – Woodsy and grounding, smells like a real tree.
Cinnamon Bark – Cozy and warming, supports immune health too.
Vanilla – Warm and sweet, perfect for cookie or cozy blends.
Clove – Sweet-spicy and comforting, pairs beautifully with orange or nutmeg.
Frankincense – Spiritually grounding, relaxing, and skin-loving.
Cedarwood – Calming and cozy, adds depth to blends.
Myrrh – Earthy and resinous, a gentle anxiety soother.
Orange – Cheerful and bright, balances the spicy oils perfectly.
Peppermint – Energizing, crisp, and perfectly minty for the holidays.
Northern Lights Black Spruce *Young Living – Deeply grounding and forest-fresh.
Diffuser Blends for Cozy Christmas Vibes
Here are some of my favorite holiday diffuser blends — a mix of simple single oils (you can grab from Eden’s Garden) and a few festive faves from Young Living (Christmas Spirit and Thieves are worth the hype, promise).
Santa’s Cookies
Smells like you’ve been baking all afternoon — minus the sugar rush.
4 drops Vanilla
2 drops Cinnamon
2 drops Nutmeg
1 Lemon (or 1 Stress Away, Young Living Blend)
O’ Christmas Tree
A forest-fresh scent that feels grounding and nostalgic.
3 drops Pine
2 drops Cedarwood
2 drops Frankincense
1 drop Cinnamon
Candy Cane Forest
Minty, sweet, and energizing — perfect for mornings with kids.
3 drops Peppermint
3 drops Orange
3 drops Vanilla
Merry & Bright
Warm, bright, and classic Christmas.
3 drops Christmas Spirit (Young Living)
2 drops Peppermint
2 drops Vanilla
Gingerbread House
Sweet and spicy, like the real thing cooling on the counter.
3 drops Ginger
3 drop Vanilla
2 drops Cinnamon
2 drops Clove
2 drops Nutmeg
Let It Snow
A cozy, clean scent with a bit of sparkle.
4 drops Christmas Spirit (Young Living)
3 drops Thieves (Young Living)
2 drops Cinnamon
Bonus: Store-Inspired Christmas Diffuser Blends
Williams Sonoma Christmas
3 drops Fir Needle or Pine
2 drops Orange
1 drop Cinnamon Bark
1 drop Clove
2 drops Rosemary
1 drop Lemon
Optional: 1-2 drops vanilla for extra sweetness
Anthro Christmas
3 drops Sweet Orange
3 drops Vanilla (oleoresin)
2 drops Cinnamon Bark
2 drops Clove
1 drop Cedarwood or Sandalwood
Optional: Add 1 drop Patchouli for that boho, deep Anthro vibe
Christmas Reed Diffuser Blends
Reed diffusers are perfect if you want something that quietly scents a space all day without needing to plug in or remember to refill water.
What you’ll need:
2 tbsp light oil (like almond, safflower, or grapeseed)
1–2 tbsp vodka or witch hazel (helps the oil travel up the reeds)
20–30 drops essential oils
Just pour, swirl, and insert your reeds. Flip them every few days for a scent refresh.
Here are a couple of my go-tos:
Three Wise Men
10 drops Frankincense
10 drops Myrrh
10 drops Orange
Christmas Spice
10 drops Orange
10 drops Cinnamon
5 drops Clove
5 drops Nutmeg
5 Vanilla
DIY Christmas Room Sprays
Once you start making your own room sprays, you’ll never go back to the store-bought ones.
What you’ll need:
4 - 8 oz glass spray bottle
2 oz witch hazel
2 oz distilled water
20–30 drops of essential oils
Shake before each use and spritz on curtains, bedding, or the air when guests are coming.
Holly Jolly
10 drops Christmas Spirit (Young Living)
5 drops Orange
5 drops Cinnamon
5 drops Peppermint
5 drops Vanilla
O Holy Night
10 drops Orange
5 drops Frankincense
5 drops Myrrh
Christmas Spice
15 drops Orange
10 drops Cinnamon
5 drops Clove
5 drops Vanilla
Christmas Cookies
15 drops Vanilla or Stress Away (Young Living)
5 drops Lemon
5 drops Cinnamon
Stovetop Christmas Simmer Pot
If you’re not into oils yet, this one’s for you — your whole home will smell like Christmas magic.
Ingredients:
1 orange, sliced
1 cup fresh cranberries
3 cinnamon sticks
1 tbsp whole cloves
(Optional) 1 small pine branch or rosemary
Directions
Add everything to a pot of water, bring to a gentle boil, then simmer on low. Add more water throughout the day as needed.
Homemakers tip: Keep a small mason jar of prepped ingredients in the fridge — that way you can just dump it into the pot whenever you need a quick mood lift.
Bonus: Classic Christmas Playlist
Because scent + sound = instant nostalgia.
It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas – Johnny Mathis
Holly Jolly Christmas – Burl Ives
Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree – Brenda Lee
Blue Christmas – Elvis Presley
The Christmas Song – Nat King Cole
Joy to the World – Andy Williams
Let It Snow – Dean Martin
White Christmas – Bing Crosby
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas – Frank Sinatra
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